Nio is rolling out the ET9 to fight the Bentley Bentayga and Mercedes-Maybach GLS in the segment of ultra-luxury SUVs. The model is packed with out-of-this-world comfort features and technology, promises fast charging capabilities, and now this: it is the world's only car with drive-by-wire chassis. And this is how it works.
A video uploadded to YouTube by the Chinese carmaker shows a Nio ET9 prototype going through a high-frequency vibration test. The team that set up the test placed the car on the asphalt, with the front wheels in a puddle, instead of simulating the test in a lab. And the demonstration is nothing short of impressive.
The body of the car remains stable despite the fact that the suspension, wheels, and tires are going through torture. To prove the stability of the model while driving along a hypothetical bumpy road, Nio put two glasses of water on the hood of the car, right and left, close to the windshield. And it seems they are there to stay. Back in December, the car made a demonstration using not one, not two, but a pyramid of ten glasses put on the hood of the car.
The carmaker claims that the world’s only drive-by-wire chassis provides an experience comparable to cruising in the stratosphere. Nio calls this suspension the SkyRide. The system is linked to a highly advanced automotive-grade chip that is capable of running over 6 trillion commands peer second.
And it’s not just stability during the drive that the Nio ET9 offers. The Asian carmaker built its car on a 900-volt architecture, which enables charging speeds of up to 600 kW. Like other Nio models, the ET9 can use battery swapping stations in China.
Nio unveiled the SUV last year to fight the ultra-luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, the Bentley Bentayga, and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan on the Chinese market. All three carmakers offer special versions and equipment of their SUVs for the customers in China.
Photo: Nio
But the Nio ET9 will be more affordable the moment it enters production. Yet, it comes with a more imposing stance than all of them. For instance, it is 209.7 inches long, which makes it almost 0.8 inches longer than the extended-wheelbase version of the Bentayga.
The ET9 is set in motion by two electric motors which generate together a total of 697 horsepower. Energy is stored in a large 120.0-kWh battery pack. There is no information on how far the car can drive on a single charge. Bio only announced that, under optimal conditions, the battery should be able to charge enough for 158 miles in just 5 minutes.
The model is advertised as a car that is best enjoyed while sitting in the reclining seats with aircraft-style folding tables. Each of the rear occupants can control several features of the car via their own 14.6-inch display mounted in the backrests of the front seats.
The Nio ET9 is available for preorder in China and deliveries are set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. The model starts at around 800,000 yuan, which translates to approximately $112,000 at the current exchange rates.
How capable is the NIO ET9 SkyRide Fully Active Suspension system? Have a look at the unique By-Wire Controlled Car Chassis which delivers an experience comparable to cruising in a business jet.#NIO#BlueSkyComing#ET9pic.twitter.com/EJ2V5uXCy9
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